DEFENCE Minister Socratis Hasikos yesterday dismissed as exaggerations statements by House Health Committee members that conditions at the military hospital in Nicosia were appalling
Hasikos also refuted reports that many conscripts had sued the state because they were allegedly suffering from health problems caused by the lack of equipment at the hospital.
Members of the Health Committee on Tuesday visited the hospital and described conditions there as unacceptable.
Furthermore, military doctors told deputies that the families of conscripts were suing the state because they claimed to have developed problems from belated or inexistent medical help.
Hasikos rejected the claims, saying: "there is only one law suit against the state by a conscript; only one."
He said a soldier was suing the Republic because he had allegedly sustained an ear problem from the shots fired during an exercise.
"There is a standing order, especially concerning artillery fire, for crews to wear ear-protection," Hasikos said.
"The court will decide who is at fault if it is found that the particular soldier had not been using ear-shields," he added.
He repeated there was only one lawsuit pending, out of 48,000 cases examined by the hospital every year.
Hasikos said the issue of the military hospital had been tabled at a recent House Defence Committee meeting.
"We discussed whether we should have an independent military hospital, or if it was better to house it in one of the state hospitals," he said.
He said his ministry, along with the Health Ministry, had already discussed the possibility of sheltering the military hospital within the new Nicosia General Hospital, and added the issue would be re-examined today.
Diko deputy and member of the House Health committee Marios Matsakis yesterday called on the Defence Ministry to shut down the military hospital because.
"Now is the time for courageous decisions, and there is only one choice," Matsakis said.
"We do not need a separate military medical facility in Cyprus," he added.
Matsakis maintained military hospitals were for countries like Russia and the USA, which have massive armies.
"Here we have a small army and hospitals which are close to the units," Matsakis said.
"I suggest we abolish the army hospital and place its doctors under the Health Ministry where they can serve in state hospitals."
On Tuesday, Matsakis also lambasted the state of the army’s ambulances, saying they had no medical equipment. "It’s a shame to spend so much money on missiles, and not to have proper ambulances," he said.
The Defence Ministry assured deputies the National Guard would be taking delivery of 10 state-of-the-art ambulances by the end of the year.
